DS&AI 2025

Travel Information

Visa

Visa Requirements

All foreign participants are required to obtain a Business Visa in order to attend the conference. Full details are available on the Department of Immigration and Emigration website (see here).

Participants can apply online for an ETA Business Visa through the official portal (apply here). It is recommended to submit the application at least 2–3 weeks prior to travel to allow sufficient processing time.

A formal Letter of Invitation to support your visa application can be requested from the Conference Secretary after completing registration. Please send your request via email to icdsai@pdn.ac.lk.

On arrival in Sri Lanka, please ensure that you carry a printed copy of your ETA approval and the Letter of Invitation, as immigration officers may request to see them.

Transport

Traveling to Kandy

The main international gateway to Sri Lanka is the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), with the IATA code CMB. It is located 113 km from Kandy, with an estimated travel time of approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. The most convenient options for travel are by taxi or ride-hailing services such as Uber or PickMe, and the journey may include toll roads.

Airport taxi counters are available in the arrivals area, and pre-booking a vehicle through a reliable service is recommended for late-night arrivals. Ride-hailing services (Uber, PickMe) can be booked via mobile apps, though availability may vary depending on the time of day.

For those preferring public transport, regular intercity trains and air-conditioned express buses operate between Colombo and Kandy, but they may take longer and require transfers from the airport to the respective terminals in Colombo City.